Tax probe into13 agents, 39 clubs and 100 players
The tax affairs of more than 100 footballers, 39 clubs and 13 agents are under investigation by her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
The authorities are chasing millions in unpaid tax from players who they suspect of abusing image rights loopholes and tax-avoidance schemes. They are also working closely with their counterparts across europe as part of an international crackdown.
In Spain, super- agent Jorge Mendes is accused of helping star clients including Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao of failing to declare income from image rights by routing it through a network of offshore companies. Mendes and his clients deny the allegations.
HMRC will not comment on ‘identifiable individuals’ but a spokesman told Sportsmail: ‘HMRC carefully scrutinises the arrangements between football clubs and their employees in respect of any image right payment to make sure the right tax is paid.
‘We rigorously enforce the rules and tackle firmly anybody who games the system. Since 2014- 15 we have delivered £269million in extra tax from tackling rule-breakers in the football industry generally. ‘We are currently making enquiries into the tax affairs of 67 footballers, 39 football clubs and 13 agents concerning a range of issues, including image rights abuse and are looking into more than 100 footballers in relation to the use of tax avoidance schemes.
‘HMRC works closely with its international partners, sharing information to ensure tax is correctly accounted for and paid in the relevant country.’
These figures represent a significant increase on the last ones released in December, when 43 players, 12 clubs and eight agents were under investigation.
Newcastle and West ham were raided by HMRC officers in April. Computers, mobile phones and financial records were seized as part of a co-ordinated operation across the UK and France into suspected income tax and National Insurance fraud.
On Thursday, the Paris Saint-Germain’s academy was raided and searched by French police acting on behalf of the national taxation agency. It follows raids last month on PSG’s offices and the homes of players Angel di Maria and Javier Pastore.
The raids are part of a probe launched in December into largescale tax evasion by some players and clubs.
Di Maria, who spent one season at Manchester United in 2014-15, has agreed to pay € 2million (£1.75m) to a Spanish court after admitting to fraud relating to image rights during his time at Real Madrid.
he, too, is a client of Mendes, the Portuguese agent who has strong links in english football, particularly at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he acts as an adviser to the club’s owners.